sputniks and gardening

I wrote the other day about: Critters: cats of different stripes. There were 14 monarch caterpillars in site that day! 

I popped this leaf into the aquarium. I don't know what the eggs are, they were on a rose bush, and I was afraid I would knock them off. 

The question mark caterpillars have gone into their chrysalis. Now we wait.



A pretty little bug, perhaps Dicera tenebrosa! It looks copper. It was crawling on the sunflower plant, then got mad at me (privacy!) and fell to the sidewalk.


Update on the monarchs: another has gone into chrysalis. After a bit more research, I realized that when they morph, they do that within the outer striped shell. Then, as they turn green and expand their size within the shell, the outer casing/shell falls off. You're never too old to learn!



In other news...
We cottaged in Bala for 50 years or so, and we all have fond memories of the sputnik buttonbush on the lakefront. Here is was, to the right of the white lawnchair.

My brother and my dad moving dad's sailboat, preparing to put the docks in. Again, the buttonbush on the left.

The new homeowners have put sod in, and I presume the buttonbushes are gone.


Caitlin and I liked the sputnik plants we used to have at the cottage, where we lived in Muskoka. We both bought one. Now, mine was up on a rock garden in the front and it wasn't doing well. Hers is amazing. Hers is beside her rain barrel, and got the overflow water. She took a photo for me to compare the size. It's her 40th birthday Friday. I don't know where the time goes!


You can see why it has this name.

 

Mine was facing serious issues. I did some gardening Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, and moved the bush. Here is my piddly little bush! You can see the dead, brown branches. Cross your fingers for me!


Well, I paid for gardening in flip flops. Again.

I shall donate the flip flops to Isabelle, who quite likes them! She is 8, now, and she is growing.

Between this, and my worsening cataracts, it's getting frustrating! JB has been amazing.